Crittenden County’s ground game took over in the second half, helping the Rockets end a 12-year losing skid against Caldwell County.
Quarterback Micah Newcom ran for three touchdowns — and passed for 182 yards — as Crittenden overcame a 13-7 halftime deficit to post a 21-13 victory over Caldwell Friday night at Tiger Stadium in Princeton.
The Rockets had not walked off the field against Caldwell with a win since the 2009 season.
Caldwell (0-4) used a pair of big plays to get to the locker room with the lead.
Newcom had helped Crittenden (2-2) take a 7-0 lead with a 5-yard scoring run in the first quarter.
But Caldwell countered just 14 seconds later when Jamus Carneyhan found an opening, made a cut and outraced the Crittenden defense 73 yards for a touchdown. Timothy Nichols’ PAT tied the game at 7-7 with 4:33 left in the opening quarter.
The Tigers came up big again early in the second period — but this time it was the defense turning the trick.
With Crittenden driving, a pass down the seam was tipped by Carneyhan and picked off by Logan Chambliss at the 6-yard line. Chambliss weaved his way through Crittenden players, found an opening on the sideline, and returned the interception 94 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked, but Caldwell led 13-7 at the 10:25 mark of the second quarter.
The interception return was the third-longest in Tiger history. Donovan Dame ran a pick back 97 yards for a touchdown in 2001 against Crittenden while Lucas Green had a 96-yard interception return for a score in 1993 at Reidland.
Newcom’s second touchdown run helped Crittenden take the lead with 6:49 left in the third quarter. Newcom scored on an 11-yard keeper. Preston Morgeson’s extra-point kick pushed the Rockets in front 14-13.
Newcom scored on a 3-yard run with 8:54 left in the game. That helped make it 21-13.
The Rockets drove deep into Tiger territory again with less than 3 minutes to play. However, a missed field goal left Caldwell with some life.
The Tigers moved the ball all the way to the Crittenden 1-yard line with less than a minute to play.
However, a pass play lost yardage, then two more pass attempts fell incomplete as Crittenden held Caldwell out of the end zone and kept the Tigers from having a chance to tie the game.
Caldwell’s defense came up with three interceptions and six sacks to keep the Tigers in the game. Gus Fox had a team-high 12 tackles and two sacks.
Carneyhan finished with 112 yards rushing for the Tigers, with much of that coming on the big first-quarter scoring run.
Crittenden finished with 17 first downs to just six for Caldwell.
The Rockets had 309 total yards while the Tigers had 178.
Both teams face Union County in their next game. The Braves are 4-0 after beating Murray 54-30 on Friday.
Caldwell visits Union next week.
Crittenden hosts Union in two weeks after having an open date next week.
